METRO NORTH NEW HAVEN RAIL COMMUTER COUNCIL

(Established in 1985 under Connecticut Public Act 85-239, now Sections 13b-212b and

13b -212c of the Connecticut General Statutes)

 

MINUTES OF AUGUST 25, 2010

SWRPA

STAMFORD, CT

 

Present were:  Jim Cameron, Chairman; Bob Jelley, Roger Cirella, John Hartwell,  Rodney Chabot, Terri Cronin, Jeff Maron, Drew Todd and Luke Schnirring, members of the Council; Gene Colonese, Jim Redeker and Jeff Parker, DOT; Jeff Watson and John Longobardi, MNR; Jim McKenna MTA Police; Martin Cassidy, Stamford Advocate; John Austin, member of the public. 

 

The meeting began at 7:00 pm.

 

The minutes, as corrected, were approved.  Jim Cameron announced that CTN was televising the entire meeting and the video would be available on their TV channel. 

 

NEW TIMETABLE

 

Mr. Cameron announced that the new timetable would take effect on Monday, August 30.  It will be the beginning of a period when two tracks at a time will be out of service between Southport and Bridgeport.  Gene Colonese said that while train times have been changed to take account of the two tracks being taken out of service, no trains have been eliminated from the schedule.  He said that completion of all of the catenary and bridge repair work from Southport to Bridgeport would take about 20 months.  First, tracks 2 and 4 will be out of service, then tracks 2 and 1 and then tracks 1 and 3.  Only Southport and Fairfield stations are affected by the track outage.  Mr Cameron asked whether there is any plan to have train platform on the reverse side, and Mr. Colonese said there was no such plan.  In answer to a further question, he said that the catenary replacement work in the Darien area would be completed by April, 2011. 

 

FARES

 

In answer to a question from Mr. Cameron, Jeff Parker said that there was no plan to institute the legislated 1¼ % fare increase until the new M-8 cars are in service.  He went on to say that hearings have been scheduled in New York for New York’s January 1 fare increase.  So as not to be in lockstep with New York and cause confusion, Connecticut will not hold hearings on the 1¼ % fare increase until the New York hearings are completed. 

 

He went on to say that New York’s proposals to eliminate the 5% discount on on-line ticket sales (2% for monthly tickets) are considered “fare increases” and therefore require approval by Connecticut.  He said that the proposal to reduce the validity of a ten trip ticket from one year to three months and the proposal to reduce the validity of one-way tickets were not considered fare issues, and therefore MTA can make those changes without Connecticut’s approval.

 

John Hartwell, Rodney Chabot, Bob Jelley and Mr. Cameron all criticized the MTA proposed fare changes.

 

There was a question about MTA’s proposal that Connecticut, in effect, subsidize to some extent New York’s increased fares, because fares from Greenwich would be cheaper than fares from Portchester and Rye.  Mr. Parker said that Connecticut believes that its agreement with MNR does not require Connecticut to subsidize higher New York fares. 

 

M-8s

 

Mr. Parker said that testing so far was considered successful.  He said that he hopes for three train sets in service by the end of 2010.  He said that two more cars were arriving from Japan the next day.  Mr. Hartwell raised the question about the option that was exercised by Connecticut for 80 additional cars, but then pulled back before consideration by the State Bond Commission.  Mr. Parker said that the Department will work hard to convince the Bond Commission to approve the money for the 80 option cars.  He said the option was available until the 100^th car of the original order is delivered, which ought to be about August, 2011.  He noted that the option price varies with an economic index, and that the total option price may therefore rise a couple of hundred thousand dollars per month, but he also said that the option price now is about the same when the contract was signed. 

 

STAMFORD GARAGE

 

Mr. Cameron noted that the Governor was proposing a new Stamford garage at a location on Atlantic Street, but that the proposal was unfunded.  Mr. Parker noted that because of legislative action, the $35 million available could be used only to rebuild the existing garage at the same location.  He said the DOT does not think it is possible to provide adequate parking during the construction period if the new garage is built at the location of the old garage.  He said that the DOT thinks it is necessary to first build a garage at a different location.  He said the DOT will work with the Town of Stamford and the Legislature to figure out a new strategy.

 

Mr. Hartwell asked how much more than $35 million is necessary to build the new garage.  Mr. Parker said the project could total about $60 million, including the cost of temporary parking.  He said that that figure had been determined a year or two ago and it could be a bit lower now but not as low as $35 million.  Jeff Maron asked if the DOT had reexamined every possibility of rebuilding the existing garage.  Mr. Parker said that rehabilitating the existing garage really requires demolishing the garage in pieces and entirely rebuilding it.  He also said that it is necessary to improve the waiting areas in the Stamford station.  And he particularly made the point that the DOT believes that it is easier to build a garage in tandem with a developer than to do it on its own. 

 

BAR CARS

 

Ms. Cronin presented the results of the Council’s online survey of commuters to gauge their reaction to proposed design of a new bar car.  More than 700 commuters participated in the survey and expressed overwhelming support for the bar car concept but mixed reviews of the proposed seating areas.

 

Mr. Parker said that the DOT has determined that it will be cheaper to retrofit new M-8 cars by taking out the seats and putting in facilities for a bar car than to have Kawasaki build bar cars in the first place.  He said that 7 cars will be retrofitted as bar cars.  Terri Cronin asked for the toilet in the bar cars to be in a different location.  Mr. Jelley said that he thought the toilet could not be moved.  Mr. Parker agreed.  Mr. Jelley suggested perhaps making an even numbered car, without a toilet, into a bar car, and let patrons walk to either of the adjoining cars to use the toilet.  Mr. Chabot suggested that there ought to be 10 bar cars. 

 

Mr. Maron asked if the DOT was interested in having a partner run the bar cars rather than MNR. 

 

STATION REPAIRS

 

Mr. Cameron noted that maintenance work had begun at the Noroton Heights station by taking down the existing canopy but that no replacement canopy had been installed.  Mr. Colonese said that he hoped to complete canopies in December and in a later phase would do lighting repairs. 

 

WIFI

 

Mr. Longobardi said a request for proposals for WIFI on trains was going out on October 1.  He said he did not know the details of the request, but would have someone at our next meeting to explain it in detail.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

In answer to a question, Mr. Colonese said the contract for the West Haven station would be awarded in September and the work ought to be completed by 2012.  It will have 700 parking spaces.  It will also include re-establishing track 3 from New Haven to Woodmont. 

 

Mr. Colonese said that the work in the pedestrian tunnel at Union Station involves a great deal of water proofing of the tunnel as well as new stairs and sign boards.  It will also include new sign boards at State Street Station.  It is expected to be completed by July 2011. 

 

Black Rock station in Fairfield is expected to open in the fall of 2011.

 

The Branford station parking lot addition has run into some environmental issues and is now expected to open in early spring 2011. 

 

It was announced that on the Danbury line, Branchville is going to begin charging for parking.

 

The July operations report was discussed.  It was noted that the CSR program of rehabilitating 146 M-2 cars is now complete.  In theory, those cars now have an additional 10 years of life.

 

Mr. Chabot asked about the New Canaan derailment the previous week.  John Longobardi said that Metro North was still investigating the derailment and he would let us know next month.

 

Jim Redecker began discussing the CT State Rail Plan, but it was decided to take up the discussion at the September meeting.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.  The next meeting will take place on September 22, 2010, SWRPA, Stamford, CT.

 

Bob Jelley

Secretary

Phone:  (203) 498-4306

E-mail:  rjelley@wiggin.com